Michelangelo Gruttadauria

Heterogeneous catalytic degradation of phenolic substrates: Catalysts activity

This review article explored the catalytic degradation of phenol and some phenols derivates by means of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Among them, only the heterogeneous catalyzed processes based on catalytic wet peroxide oxidation, catalytic ozonation and catalytic wet oxidation were reviewed. Also selected recent examples about heterogeneous photocatalytic AOPs will be presented. In details, the present review contains: (i) data concerning catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenolic compounds over metal-exchanged zeolites, hydrotalcites, metal-exchanged clays and resins. (ii) Use of cobalt-based catalysts, hydrotalcite-like compounds, active carbons in the catalytic ozonation process. (iii) Activity of transition metal oxides, active carbons and supported noble metals catalysts in the catalytic wet oxidation of phenol and acetic acid. The most relevant results in terms of catalytic activity for each class of catalysts were reported.

New ionic liquid-modified silica gels as recyclable materials for L-proline- or H–Pro–Pro–Asp–NH2-catalyzed aldol reaction

L-proline and the tripeptide H–Pro–Pro–Asp–NH2 (1) have been supported, by adsorption, onto the surface of modified silica gels functionalized with a monolayer of covalently attached 1,2-dimethyl-imidazolium chloride, tetrafluoroborate or hexafluorophosphate ionic moieties, respectively. Three different linkers were used to attach the ionic liquid moiety to the surface of these supports. The resulting materials have been used as catalysts for the aldol reaction between acetone and several substituted benzaldehydes. Good yields and enantioselectivities, comparable to or better than those obtained under homogeneous conditions, were obtained. These materials are easily recovered by filtration, and studies regarding their re-use have been carried out. Studies performed using L-proline-supported materials have shown that the re-use of these materials is dependent on the nature of the linker. The supported tripeptide H–Pro–Pro–Asp–NH2 gave higher enantioselectivities than those obtained with supported-proline. Recycling investigations using tripeptide-supported materials showed continued good selectivities but diminishing conversions over consecutive runs. L-proline-supported materials however, can be used at least nine times without loss of either conversion or selectivity.

Multilayered supported ionic liquids as catalysts for chemical fixation of carbon dioxide: a high-throughput study in supercritical conditions

Multilayered, covalently supported ionic liquid phase (mlc-SILP) materials were synthesized by using a new approach based on the grafting of bis-vinylimidazolium salts on different types of silica or polymeric supports. The obtained materials were characterized and tested as catalysts in the reaction of supercritical carbon dioxide with various epoxides to produce cyclic carbonates. The material prepared by supporting a bromide bis-imidazolium salt on the ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 was identified as the most active catalyst for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates and displayed improved productivity compared with known supported ionic liquid catalysts. The catalyst retained its high activity upon reuse in consecutive catalytic runs. This is the first report of the application of mlc-SILP materials as catalysts in a reaction for the fixation of carbon dioxide. Rapid, parallel screening and comparison of the catalysts was performed by means of high-throughput experimentation.

“Release and catch” catalytic systems

In this perspective article the “release and catch” catalytic system concept is discussed. A “release and catch” catalytic system is prepared by non-covalent immobilization of the catalytic moiety on a suitable support, but differently from the usual non-covalently supported catalyst, the catalytic moiety is released in solution over the course of the reaction and it is recaptured at the end of the reaction. Such a “catalyst-sponge like” or “boomerang” system allows one to combine the benefits of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis and can be applied to organometallic-based catalysts, organocatalysts and metal-based catalysts.

Synthesis and high-throughput testing of multilayered supported ionic liquid catalysts for the conversion of CO2 and epoxides into cyclic carbonates

Multilayered covalently supported ionic liquid phase (mlc-SILP) materials were synthesised by grafting different bis-vinylimidazolium salts on thiol-functionalised silica. These materials, which contain a cross-linked oligomeric network of imidazolium units, were characterised and tested as catalysts for the reaction of carbon dioxide with various epoxides to produce cyclic carbonates. The materials prepared by supporting a bis-imidazolium iodide salt with xylene or octane as a linker between the imidazolium units were identified as the most active catalysts and displayed high turnover numbers and improved productivity compared to known supported ionic liquid catalysts. The most promising mlc-SILP catalysts were further studied to tune the reaction conditions towards optimum catalytic performance and to investigate their versatility with different substrates and their reusability. The rapid and parallel screening of the catalysts was efficiently carried out by means of high-throughput (HT) experimentation.

Covalently Supported Ionic Liquid Phases: An Advanced Class of Recyclable Catalytic Systems

In this review, the most recent advances in the synthesis and catalytic applications of covalently supported ionic liquid (IL) phases will be discussed. This class of recyclable catalytic materials is based on the covalent attachment of several types of ammonium salts, usually imidazolium, but also thiazolium, triazolium, and pyrrolidinium salts, on the surface of different supports, for example, silica, periodic mesoporous organosilica, polystyrene, magnetic‐based materials, carbon nanotubes (NTs), halloysite NTs, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS), and fullerenes. Moreover, poly(ionic liquid) materials, in which the IL‐based structure also acts as a support, will be considered. The synthetic applications of these materials will be presented, with special emphasis on their roles as catalysts, without added organocatalysts or metal‐based catalysts, as supports for organocatalysts, and as supports for metal‐based catalysts.

Spectrophotometric study on the thermodynamics of binding of α- and β-cyclodextrin towards some p-nitrobenzene derivatives

Binding properties of native α- and β-cyclodextrin towards some nitrobenzene derivatives have been studied by means of UV-vis spectrophotometry. The former host is able to form complexes having 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 stoichiometric ratios with these guests, while only 1 : 1 complexes are detected with the latter host. A careful analysis of the thermodynamic parameters for complexation equilibria, under the perspective of the enthalpy–entropy compensation effect, reveals that binding abilities of the two different hosts are subject to different features.

Studies on the stereoselective selenolactonization, hydroxy and methoxy selenenylation of α- and β-hydroxy acids and esters. Synthesis of δ- and γ-lactones

Abstract The diastereoselective synthesis of hydroxy substituted γ- and δ-lactones was accomplished following two approaches. A 5- or 6-endo cyclization promoted by electrophilic selenium reagents of α- or β-hydroxy acids and a 5- or 6-exo cyclization of hydroxy esters obtained through a diastereoselective hydroxy selenenylation reaction of α- or β-hydroxy esters. Moreover, the diastereoselective methoxy selenenylation of the above compounds was investigated showing a case in which the compound that was unreactive in the hydroxy selenenylation conditions gave, in the methoxy selenenylation conditions, the deprotected diol. The usefulness of the methoxy selenenylation procedure was proven by the preparation of a symmetric compound unsymmetrically functionalized. Yields and selectivities were found to depend on substituents (Ph or alkyl groups at the carbon atom that undergoes the nucleophilic attack), mode of cyclization, kinetic or thermodynamic control conditions. In the latter case, silica gel played an important role.

Highly cross-linked imidazolium salt entrapped magnetic particles – preparation and applications

Magnetic particles entrapped into highly cross-linked imidazolium salts were synthesized using a straightforward approach by radical polymerization of bis-vinylimidazolium salts in the presence of superparamagnetic iron oxide particles. Potential applications for these new materials as (i) catalysts for conversion of propylene oxide to propylene carbonate, (ii) supports for organocatalysts, and (iii) scavenger materials for palladium removal are outlined.

A Liquid–Liquid Biphasic Homogeneous Organocatalytic Aldol Protocol Based on the Use of a Silica Gel Bound Multilayered Ionic Liquid Phase

An innovative two stage liquid–liquid biphasic homogeneous protocol for the asymmetric organocatalytic aldol reaction is proposed, based on the use of the cis‐ion‐tagged proline 8 dissolved in the liquid film of a multilayered ionic liquid covalently bonded to silica gel 4. The resulting catalytically active material 9 is first soaked with cyclohexanone in the presence of water, resulting in a semi‐transparent gel, then the aldehyde is added and the mixture stirred at RT. In the first stage, 4 acts as a catalyst reservoir that delivers 8 to the cyclohexanone phase allowing the reaction to take place homogeneously. In the second stage, cyclohexanone is removed under vacuum and the resulting slurry is extracted with anhydrous diethylether. Now 4 acts as a catalyst sponge, redissolving 8. Product extraction is extremely selective; no trace of catalyst is detected in the product‐containing phase, and 9 can be easily reused several times with high cumulative productivity values (up to 523).